Monday, August 25, 2008

Kinda Blah

Weekend Update… Well, the weekend was kinda-sorta a bust. Not that anything unusual or untoward happened, it was just…blah. The news seemed to be “All Biden – All the Frickin’ Time,” and that was much more than enough to put me off. And there were the usual hordes of Talking Heads swarming all over my teevee, telling me what to expect and what not to expect out of this week’s Dimwit Gathering in Denver… as if I actually gave a shit. As far as that goes, I really don’t care about NEXT week’s similar gathering in Minneapolis-St. Paul, for what that’s worth. Don’t get me wrong, Gentle Reader, I’m still paying attention. But it’s pretty damned hard to do, at this point. I’m burned out…nay, fried… on things political right now. I’m hoping something/anything will restore my interest, but I’m not all that hopeful.

The one bright spot in life, as I see it right now… the Olympics… are over. And what a bright spot it was! So many new world records; so many astounding feats of athleticism, beauty, and raw courage; so many individual moments of glory and crushing disappointments; such drama! And what a show it was, too, in both the technical and aesthetic senses. The Chinese definitely put their best foot forward and showed the world they are indeed a world-class player on the international stage… provided you don’t look behind the curtain, that is.

I watched last night’s Closing Ceremony twice… once during the prime-time tape-delayed broadcast, and then again when they re-ran the tape-delay during the overnight/late night broadcast. While the Closing Ceremony didn’t have the impact of the Opening Ceremony… I mean: how could it possibly?… it was certainly “good enough.” One got the inevitable “been there, done that” sort of feeling while watching the production, which is kinda an indicator of how rapidly we can become jaded these days. Or perhaps it’s an indicator of how rapidly I become jaded… I dunno. But here’s my take-away from last evening’s ceremony: brilliant. That, and Jimmy Page is old. Heh.

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Digital photography is easy, right? Think again! It’s a lot harder than it looks… especially if you happen to be a photographer for National Geographic Magazine, on assignment to photograph Stonehenge for the magazine’s cover. The cover shot of Stonehenge on the left is the product of hours upon hours of work, including 42 hours of night-time shooting that didn’t yield photos worthy of NatGeo’s cover. But, as you can see from the results on the left, the photographer was ultimately… and spectacularly… successful.

Here is the final formula for the cover shot: Hasselblad Flexbody with 15mm of drop dialed in to a Phase One P45 back, ISO was set at 100, the lens was a Hasselblad Distagon 40mm set at f11, there were 12 SureFire lights aimed at the stones which were on for about 12 seconds during the 15 minute total exposure. Dressed in black, I then walked through the scene painting additional light on the stones to create some of edge highlights.

The whole story… including a couple of false starts, lots of technical detail, and more great photos… is related in the story “Shooting Stonehenge,” on NGM photographer Ken Geiger’s digital photography blog. It’s fascinating stuff.

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Today’s Pic: Dipping into the archives for a picture of SN3 on an uncharacteristically gray and chilly day in Florida, in April of 2003. I took this photo at the east-bound rest area just across the Alabama-Florida state line on I-10. SN1, Grandson Sean, Bobby (who now demands to be called “Robert,” a sure-fire indication he’s growing up way too fast), and I were on our way to Cape Canaveral to attend the commissioning of the USS Mason (DDG87)… which happened to be SN2’s then-current ride. A Good Time was had by all, needless to say. The Navy knows how to throw a party!

Speaking of parties...

The locals loved the Mason, too. Or the money. One or the other... (insert Smiley-Face thingie here.)

Being a photographer myself, I am amazed at the NatGeo work. Truly on a whole nuther level than most any other pro out there today. I've been honored to take a photography seminar with a NatGeo photographer - Rod Planck. He was arrogant and a total pain the butt, but I could have cared less - his work was beyond breathtaking. And the things he had to say changed how I photographed everything, forever.

The Olympics - ho hum.Sorry, I didn't watch much and what I saw last night confused and annoyed me. How many bells and lights does one person need to wear, let alone a SEA of people.

Heh, our Captain was talking to one of our cadets who recently gained a scholarship (and thus is entitled to a Military ID) about flying space-A on military flights. The Captain then advised him to always make sure to ask if a place has a military discount, because a lot of places do.

You know....when I saw CNN put up that Biden had been chosen as Obama's VP....I was like, hm....something is wrong with that statement, isn't he like chosen to be his running mate for the election??? Then I watched to see how they handled McCain's and of course they used the words I thought they should have with Obama...I mean I do I bother with that station, I just don't know.....and as far as watching what any of them said about it....I thought it was stupid that text messaging was being used...how teenagish....that is how I communicate with my children, not my supporters....grow up.

And the Olympics.....I could not bring myself to watch the closing ceremony, I was so sad it was over...just like that...what brings waring Nations together in the spirit of the games, ends with the beating of the drums....and the release of the fireworks....I knew it would never hold for me what the opening did, and I just did not want to be any sadder then I was....I read about it of course, saw the photos...that was hard enough....

And your photo of your son is precious....and yeah they grow up way too fast....my baby will be in college before I know it....I can't believe his sister will graduate this year... Sad....

I was surprised by the Biden choice - probably because the man just makes me cringe every time he opens his mouth. I would have thought the better choice would be someone who might pull over some conservative votes from people who were not happy with McCain. But then again the Dims are always arrogant.

I was really tired of the Olympics and only caught a minute or two of the closing ceremony. I only have the basic Dish plan since we try not to watch too much TV. The night time coverage of the Olympics was NBC only.

Robert's photo is very cute. I look forward to seeing a school picture this year to see how much he has changed.

He's still got his chops, tho. Even if he did look silly recreating those guitar hero moves more suitable for his 22-year old self than the 60-something guy he is now. IMHO.

Kris: One would expect self-confidence and pride in a NatGeo photographer, but arrogance? I don't care HOW good he is, I just can't stand arrogance, period. I'd have walked. Thanks for the compliment on my pic!

Becky sez: I wasn't that impressed with the closing ceremony, but then it seems they are always more subdued than the opening ceremony.

Truth be told: I was being kind with my remarks. That said, the closing WAS impressive, and had I not seen the Opening Ceremony, I'd have been wowed. Like I said: I become jaded easily.

Mike sez: Somehow I don't think that picture is quite what he had in mind.

Ya never know, tho, eh? (Big-ass grin!)

ASW sez: I thought it was stupid that text messaging was being used...how teenagish....that is how I communicate with my children, not my supporters....grow up.

From what I read, a lot of The Messiah's supporters were seriously pissed about being awakened at oh-dark-thirty on a Saturday morning. I read several blog posts to that effect.

The Closing Ceremony was bitter-sweet, no two ways about it. But, as George Harrison said... "All Things Must Pass." (Yikes. My hippie past resurfaces at the strangest times!)

Lou sez: I was surprised by the Biden choice - probably because the man just makes me cringe every time he opens his mouth. I would have thought the better choice would be someone who might pull over some conservative votes from people who were not happy with McCain. But then again the Dims are always arrogant.

Biden is a potential McCain campaign gold mine, since he simply CAN'T keep his big mouth shut. The man has NO idea what the words "brevity" and "concision" mean. And he has weird ideas, too... like partitioning Iraq. Yep... "foreign policy experience" 'R' Us!! LOL!

As for "I look forward to seeing a school picture this year to see how much he has changed."... me, too. Assuming I actually get one.

Amy sez: Robert is a cutie, but I have always been partial to those named Robert. :)

Hmmm. I wonder why? ;-)

Pat sez: DimWits? Way too kind Buck, for the bunch(both inside and outside) of that convention center.

Been a proud subscriber to NG for 20+ years.....even had a few of my comments posted over the years.

I've been a NatGeo subscriber since '77, and like a lot of folks, I saved my back-issues... until I moved into the RV. Then boxes upon boxes of the things went to the dump... (Ooops, yet again. This time the anti-hippie who refuses to recycle makes an appearance...)

You know Buck, ordinarily I'd agree with you about the arrogance thing. But if you could have seen his work, you'd forgive him for it. Seriously he's that good. The only NatGeo photog I'd rank higher is Franz Lanting. But he's in such a class that he's the only member. Have never met him, but I'd like to someday. For me, that's called being in the presence of greatness.

My dad started subscribing to NG back in the late 40s or early 50s. He kept every issue. When he died, he specifically told my brother that I was to get them all. I'm like you with the space issue, so they ended up in a box in my storage building. Unfortunately, that was the storage building a hurricane dropped a massive oak tree on, and they were all ruined. It grieves me, not so much the loss of the magazines, but that my dad wanted me to have them, and I didn't take care of them.